At first, I had a love/hate relationship with it. I wasn’t sure how or if I would relate to Bren, having experienced her almost childish ways from Channing’s perspective. Then we meet her. I mean, we really meet her. We see what makes her tick, why she carries a knife, why she joined her crew, why her relationship with Channing is so fragile, why she relies on Cross, and why she became the Bren she is today. I cried for her when she couldn’t shed the tears herself. I wanted to fight with her, for the future she lost thanks to her father. And, I wanted to protect her, from herself and those intent on causing her harm.

This book really had it all. Yes, the crew life may not be everyone’s cup of tea, and yes, the whole book is set around Bren and her crew but it is so much more than just violence and scrapping. The story shows how four dysfunctional people became friends and why their loyalty to each other means more than life itself.

This book is poignant and heartbreaking in the way the story is portrayed. I was frustrated with the characters at times but that just made me more invested in the storyline. I really disagreed with Cross’s decision to put retribution before Bren towards the end of the story, and that point had me almost tearing my hair out but then I realised, these are young people shaped in a way that is different to most. They draw their strength from each other and could quite possibly fall apart without each other.

I feel like these characters are now part of my family. When I'm in a book funk I just know that picking up a book in this series will put me right.

O'Doul has been a bit of a shy and retiring character to date. Yes, he's an enforcer on the ice but off the ice, he's more of a recluse and being one of the older players, lives life at a more sedate pace.

When his injuries start to become more than a nigglesome pain, he is forced to seek the care and attention of team massage therapist, Ariana or Ari. O'Doul doesn't like to be touched and struggles to settle when Ari is working on him but he respects her as a person and tries to do what his team expects of him.

Years ago, they were in love. She was an up-and-coming superstar and he was the devilishly handsome security professional hired to keep her safe. They fell hard and fast, no matter how they tried to resist one another. But not everyone around them was happy about their relationship, and a string of lies and deceit destroyed what they once had. ⁣

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Having just taken the helm of a nationally renowned protective services company, Kynan McGrath is looking to rebrand and revamp his career. The newly crowned Jameson Force Security is moving from the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas to the mountainous steel town of Pittsburgh, and the last thing Kynan has time for is to deal with his past. ⁣

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More than a decade has passed since their split, but even a bruised and battered heart remembers its first love. So when Joslyn Meyers comes to him for help, Kynan reluctantly agrees to keep her safe from a terrifying stalker who keeps threatening her life. ⁣

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As the danger they face continues to intensify, Kynan realizes he’ll stop at nothing to protect the woman who turned her back on him all those years ago. Because one thing is certain—no matter how hard he tries to convince himself otherwise, Joslyn still has his heart.⁣

Talk about twists and turns, violence and romance, this story had it all. Damon King is your quintessential bad boy who uses his criminal activities for the greater good.

The darling daughter of a politician who is determined to bring one particular Mexican cartel under control, Aislinn's father he does what he does whether Aislinn likes it or not. When her father's recent dealings are about to become public and are likely to put an end to his mayoral ambitions, Aislinn decides that she can no longer support her father’s endeavours, especially when they place her directly in harm's way. Enter Damon King. Tasked with protecting Aislinn, little does she know that he has been watching over her most of her life, for reasons which will become known. Aislinn doesn’t want Damon’s protection and doesn’t appreciate how endangered her life is but Damon is not about to take no for answer where Aislinn’s safety is concerned.

Damon does what Damon thinks is the best thing and he promptly locks Aislinn up in his apartment but little does he know some of the past which haunts Aislinn’s future. With time, frustrations and a little patience, Damon and Aislinn start to understand each other’s mindset and despite the ever-present danger, they unwittingly start to fall for each other.

With friends now foes and right turning out to be wrong, Aislinn finds herself buried deep in the battle between her father and the Los Muertos cartel. Despite Damon’s presence, Aislinn becomes involved in two deaths, both of which could have been her own. Damon, fearful for her life, steps up her security but little does he know, the biggest threat to Aislinn is the most innocent one imaginable.

This story had me questioning right from wrong and running to keep up with its fast pace. With just a mere second of distraction, you can find yourself missing a vital piece of the complicated puzzle that is the Wages of Sin Duet. The beautiful words may lull you into believing this is a sweet romance but the darkness quickly overpowers the poetic nature of the story. There is definitely more to come from Damon and Aislinn’s story, apart from the obvious, especially when factoring other characters and revelations which will leave you intrigued and with more questions than answers. Damon is not what I would look for in a book hero and yet his bruskness is also endearing and I suspect his character will start to soften thanks to his involvement with Aislinn. My only slight reservation was that the story may have been a little too wordy. There are so many definitions of Damon that I felt that I’d highlighted half of the book. That said, the storyline was captivating and thoroughly fascinating.

As expected, the book pauses on a cliff-hanger leaving readers bereft of answers but fear not, Corrupt Saviour is waiting around the corner.

This ebook was kindly provided by the author prior to release in return for an honest and unbiased review.